Rehabilitation process and functional results of patients with amputated fingers

Digit amputation is a physical and psychological trauma that can influence the daily living of a person. The rehabilitation of patients with digit amputation is a complex process and should take into consideration all influencing factors, such as the functional, emotional, social, and professional profile of the patient. This study was conducted to evaluate the functional level of patients with amputated fingers and to understand the factors that influence their rehabilitation. Fifty patients (42 male and 8 female with an age ranging from 7 to 84 years) who had digit amputation(s) between January of 1990 and December of 1998 at the level of the metacarpus or distal to it and who had at least 6 months of follow-up were examined. The patients were divided into three different study groups: patients with distal amputation were compared with patients who had proximal amputation, patients with one finger amputation were compared with patients who had multiple finger amputations, and patients who suffered finger amputations caused by work-related accidents were compared with those who suffered amputations caused by other incidents. In addition, the time lapse from the amputation was checked as an influencing factor for different functional levels. The results showed that patients with distal amputation reached a higher motor and sensory functional level than patients with proximal amputation. Patients with one-finger amputation reached higher motor, sensory, and activities of daily living functional levels than patients with multiple amputations, and the level of motor and sensory function of patients with finger amputations caused by work-related accidents was lower than that of patients who suffered amputations in other incidents. Time was proven to be an important factor in the process of motor and emotional recovery.